“How to Succeed” succeeds

This weekend, the Orange County School of the Arts school of Fine and Media Arts Integrated Arts conservatory presented their fall musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

“It certainly succeeded!” joked Axl Avenido, a junior in the Integrated Arts conservatory.

A different production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is about J. Pierpont Finch, a window cleaner who jealously eyes the shiny business offices he cleans the windows of. He stumbles into a book called “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and uses this advice to rise in the business world, all while maneuvering through relationships.

Though J. Pierpoint Finch may have been able to succeed without really trying, Integrated Arts students put in a lot of effort to ensure the success of the show. There were hours of rehearsal after school where students perfected choreography, honed their scenes, and sharpened the ebullient musical numbers. This included a not so fun “tech week,” where students often stayed past nine o’clock as they refined all the details of the show. Annabeth Amarsuriya played a secretary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and she says the extensive rehearsal process was worth it.

“Being in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying has been an amazing experience. Growing together as a family with the cast is one of the most special things about being in a show like this! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be performing alongside such amazing people and actors,” she said.

Thomas Palmer, who is also in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, agrees.

“It’s really been a pleasure. I’ve enjoyed every moment. The good and the bad,” he said.

A different production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

A different production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

There’s also a lot of work behind the stage—just like how the secretaries at World Wide Wicket power the company. Avenido was one of the makeup designers for the production.

“As a makeup artist backstage, the whole 50s style was fascinating and so fun to do. The costumes and music and the plot as whole was as amazing…personally [How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying] was my favorite. It has to be one of the best musicals IA has done so far,” said Avenido.

A different production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

The next Integrated Arts show will be the Integrated Arts Showcase, which will run in February. Visit https://boxoffice.ocsarts.net for more information.